幼児期の食育における体験の重要性

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between experiences related to food in shokuiku (food and nutrition education) during childhood and the "power of the experiences". A questionnaire survey was completed by the guardians of 579 kindergartners. The experiences related to food among kindergarteners were most often family events and helping with housework rather than direct experiences with food (e.g., cultivation, harvesting, cooking). Factor analysis of the association between experiences related to food among kindergarteners and the "power of the experiences" revealed three factors: normative consciousness, relationship skills, and self-support. We found that kindergarteners help with housework, and a significant association was found with all three factors. In addition, we examined the relationship between four items of experiences related to food (oneself, other people, nature and sociability) and a sense of justice and morality. A significant association was found between family events and oneself. Helping with housework had a significant association with all of the items shown. We also investigated the parents' past experiences related to food. Parents' past experiences related to food and kindergarteners' experiences related to food were significantly associated. On the other hand, a difference of experiences related to food in the home was suggested. In addition, both the practice and the contents of shokuiku in the home provided by the parent (mother) was significantly associated with parents' past experiences.